PHRENOLOGICAL  CHARACTER  OP  R150MT  DIJ1TBAR. 
1851. 


PHRENOLOGICAL  CHARACTER 

OF 

REUBEN   DUNBAR, 

WITH  A  SHORT  TEEATISE  ON 

THE  CAUSES  AND  PREVENTION  OF  CRIME, 


BY  MRS.  MARGARET  THOMPSON, 

PRACTICAL  PHRENOLOGIST. 


If,  in  physics,  imperfect  empirical  knowledge  renders  the  unknown  qualitiei  of 
bodies  liable  to  frustrate  the  efforts  of  man  to  apply  or  accommodate  hit 
conduct  to  their  known  qualities — and  if  only  a  complete  and 
systematic  exhibition  of  ultimate  principles,  and  their 
relations,  can  confer  on  science  its  full  character 
of  utility — the  same  doctrine  applies  with 
equal  or  greater  force  to  the  philo- 
sophy of  man. — COMBE. 


ALBANY: 

P.  L.  GILBERT,  MUSEUM  BUILDING. 
1851. . 


I  look  upon  Phrenology  as  the  guide  of  Philo- 
sophy, and  the  handmaid  of  Christianity;  whoever 
disseminates  true  Phrenology,  is  a  public  benefac- 
tor.— HORACE  MANN. 


COPT   HIQHT 


HV 


INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS, 


In  presenting  before  the  public  a  phrenological 
description  of  the  character  of  Reuben  Dunbar, 
we  wish  it  to  be  distinctly  understood  that  we 
have  not  the  most  remote  idea  of  influencing 
the  public  mind  for  or  against  him.  After  a  fair 
and  impartial  trial,  which  was  conducted  with 
great  ability,  his  doom  is  sealed,  and  he  must 
shortly  appear  before  a  higher  tribunal,  and  re- 
ceive sentence  "  According  to  the  deeds  done  in 
the  body,  whether  they  have  been  good  or  evil." 

With  the  guilt  or  innocence  of  the  prisoner, 
we  have  nothing  to  do.  We  will  give  a  fair  and 
accurate  account  of  his  phrenological  develop- 
ments, and  leave  our  readers  to  judge  for  them- 
selves, how  far  the  developments  of  his  brain 
correspond  with  the  supposed  perpetration  of 
the  crime  for  which  he  is  now  under  sentence 

K    of  death. 

M.  THOMPSON. 


V 

691826 


THE  PHRENOLOGICAL  CHARACTER 


OP 


REUBEN  DUNBAR. 


His  physiology  is  sound  and  good.  He  has  a 
fair  proportion  of  all  the  temperaments,  with  a 
predominance  of  the  vital.  The  size  of  his  head 
is  22|  inches  in  circumference,  over  the  organs 
of  Individuality  and  Philoprogenitiveness ;  and 
13£  inches  over  the  top,  from  Destructiveness  to 
Destructiveness,  over  Firmness.  The  size  of  his 
phrenological  developments,  on  a  scale  of  from 
one  to  seven,  are  as  follows : 

Amativeness,  5 ;  Philoprogenitiveness,  4 ;  Ad- 
hesiveness, 6 ;  Inhabitiveness,  5 ;  Concentrative- 
ness,  4;  Vitativeness,  6;  Combativeness,  6 ;  De- 
structiveness, 6;  Alimentiveness,  6;  Acquisi- 
tiveness, 6;  Secretiveness,  7;  Cautiousness,  6 
to  7;  Approbativeness,  7 ;  Self-Esteem,  4;  Firm- 
ness, 7;  Conscientiousness,  4;  Hope  5;  Mar- 
vellousness,  4;  Veneration,  4;  Benevolence,  5; 
Constructiveness,  5;  Ideality,  4;  Sublimity,  5; 
Imitation,  5;  Mirthfulness,  5;  Individuality,  6; 
Form,  6;  Size,  6;  Weight,  6;  Color,  6;  Order, 
6 ;  Calculation,  5 ;  Locality,  6 ;  Eventuality,  6 ; 
Time,  5 ;  Language,  5 ;  Causality,  5 ;  Compari- 
son, 6. 

The  intellectual  lobe  of  his  brain  is  well  de- 
veloped; but  his  temperament  is  not  sufficiently 


active  to  render  him  eminent  in  high  intellectual 
attainments.   The  temperament,  viz :  the  quality 
or  texture  of  the  brain,  is  of  as  great  importance 
in  indicating  character,  as  its  size  and  develop- 
ments.    He  may  be  said  to  possess  a  fair  amount 
of  natural  talent,  which  by  proper  cultivation  and 
discipline,  and  close  application  to  study,  might 
make  him  a  proficient  in  the  natural  sciences, 
particularly  in  chemistry,  botany  and  geography. 
He  possesses  also  considerable  mechanical  inge- 
nuity; he  is  endowed  with  good  reasoning  fac- 
ulties ;  would  be  fond  of  argument,  and  is  capa- 
ble of  taking  a  common  sense  view  of  things  in 
general.     He  possesses  tact  and  shrewdness  in 
forming  plans,  and  his  large  perceptive  intellect 
combined  with  his  strong  propelling  powers, 
enable  him  to  execute  and  carry  into  effect  his 
plans  and  projects.     He  has  good  judgment  and 
discrimination  with  regard  to  material  things, 
their  existence  and  relation  to  each  other,  that 
come  within  cognizance  of  the  external  senses; 
can  judge  well  of  the  value  of  things,  so  as  to 
make  good  bargains.     His  intellect,  as  combined 
with  his  other  faculties,  would  be  almost  wholly 
engrossed  in  forming  plans  to  make  and  accu- 
mulate money,  and  acquire  property.     His  phre- 
nological developments  indicate  a  good  memory, 
a  desire  to  read  and  acquire  knowledge   and 
general  information.     He  is  deficient  in  concen- 
trativeness ;  hence  lacks  ability  to  apply  himself 
for  a  sufficient  length  of  time  to  finish  and  per- 
fect what  he  commences.     He  is  apt  to  be  satis- 
fied with  a  smattering  or  partial  knowledge  of 
things ;  would  be  likely  to  invent  a  variety  of 
ways  and  means  to  obtain  money,  and  follow 
different  pursuits  to  accomplish  this  end. 

Ideality  and   Sublimity   are   not  sufficiently 
large  to  give  refinement  of  feeling.     He  has  but 


6 

little  taste  for  the  beautiful  and  sublime  in  nature 
and  art.  He  is  more  a  plain  matter  of  fact, 
than  a  refined  and  sentimental  person. 

His  organ  of  Adhesiveness  is  large.  He  is  ca- 
pable of  forming  strong  friendships  with  some 
individuals;  but  is  not  generally  social  and 
friendly;  his  likes  and  dislikes  are  very  strong. 
Philoprogenitiveness  is  only  average.  He  might 
love  his  own  children,  but  would  not  care  for 
the  children  of  others;  and  his  large  Destruc- 
tiveness  and  Combativeness  would  incline  him 
naturally  to  be  impatient,  severe,  and  even  cruel 
with  children  over  whom  he  has  control. 

His  selfish  propensities  are  large,  while  his 
moral  faculties  are  between  full  and  average. 
In  such  an  organization  the  selfish  feelings  have 
a  very  powerful  influence,  and  without  great 
care  and  constant  exercise  of  the  moral  organs, 
will  be  sure  to  gain  the  ascendency.     Acquisi- 
tiveness is  large  and  very  active.     This  gives 
him  a  strong  desire  to  obtain  money,  property, 
&c. ;  and  with  his  inferior  moral  brain,  would 
lead  him  to  be  penurious  and  covetous.     Secre- 
tiveness  is  very  large.     He  is  exceedingly  cun- 
ning, and  capable  of  acting  artfully  and  deceit- 
fully ;  has  uncommon  power  to  conceal  his  real 
feelings.     Seldom  discloses  his  plans  to  others; 
is  secretive  and  says  little.     Destructiveness  and 
Combativeness  are  large  also;  so  is  firmness. 
These,  with  his  other  combination  of  organs, 
make  him  quarrelsome,  harsh,  severe,  self-willed, 
tenacious  of  his  rights,  wilful,  and  desperately 
determined. 

Conscientiousness  is  average.  He  has  some, 
but  not  a  strong  sense  of  moral  right;  is  very 
.liable  to  err  and  yield  to  temptation.  Love  of 
approbation  being  large,  he  would  favor  and 
take  sides  with  any  system,  sect  or  party  that  is 


likely  to  be  the  most  popular,  and  bring  the 
greatest  amount  of  interest  to  him  and  his  par- 
ticular friends. 

Self-Esteem  is  average.  He  lacks  true  dignity 
of  character ;  is  low  minded,  selfish  and  grovel- 
ing; can  stoop  to  do  mean  things;  has  very 
little  sense  of  honor.  He  is  not  inclined  to  be 
respectful  to  his  superiors;  is  deficient  in  cour- 
tesy and  politeness  of  manners. 

Veneration  is  not  more  than  average.  Mar- 
velousness  is  average  also.  He  may  believe  in 
God,  or  a  great  first  cause,  but  does  not  believe 
much  in  the  supernatural ;  has  but  little  faith 
beyond  that  which  reason  can  comprehend  and 
account  for,  and  explain  on  natural  principles. 
If  he  is  inclined  to  be  religious  at  all,  it  is  from 
dread  of  punishment,  which  arises  from  his 
Cautiousness,  which  is  very  large,  and  a  love  of 
popularity,  which  comes  through  large  Appro- 
bativeness.  He  has  a  strong  abhorrence  of  pun- 
ishment and  annihilation ;  has  a  strong  tenacity 
for  life.  His  organization  would  naturally  lead 
him  to  look  on  the  Divine  being  as  a  God  of 
vengeance,  "  a  consuming  fire,"  rather  than  a 
God  of  benevolence,  one  who  is  kind,  long-suf- 
fering and  full  of  compassion. 

His  organ  of  Benevolence  is  fully  developed, 
but  exercises  quite  a  limited  influence  in  his 
character.  The  selfish  feelings  take  the  lead, 
and  control  the  entire  man.  He  possesses  a 
considerable  degree  of  sympathy  and  kindness 
of  feeling  when  in  a  pleasant  mood,  and  may 
manifest  feeling  for  persons  in  sickness,  but  he 
has  scarcely  any  gene  rosity,  and  would  withhold 
money  from  the  distressed  and  indigent.  His 
benevolence  is  no\  of  that  character  which' 
makes  an  individual  universally  kind-hearted, 
tender  and  sympathizing. 


8 

His  organ  of  Hope  is  full  and  active.  He  is 
sanguine  in  his  expectations  of  future  good;  is 
inclined  to  anticipate  good  rather  than  evil. 

The  above  remarks  have  been  made  strictly 
in  accordance  with  the  phrenological  develop- 
ments of  his  brain.  If  the  prisoner  has  com- 
mitted the  crime  with  which  he  is  charged,  his 
large  Destructiveness,  Combativene"ss,  Acquisi- 
tiveness, Secretiveness  and  Firmness,  with  small 
Philoprogenitiveness,  have  been  the  cause.  The 
size  of  these  organs,  as  combined  with  other 
faculties,  especially  if  perverted,  indicate  an  un- 
fortunate organization ;  one  in  which  the  animal 
propensities  govern,  because  the  moral  faculties 
are  not  sufficiently  large  to  balance  and  control 
them.  Such  an  individual  is  capable  of  com- 
mitting desperate  deeds;  yet  may  be  said  to 
possess  some  redeeming  traits  of  character.  A 
human  being,  possessing  by  nature  such  an  in- 
ferior organization,  certainly  has  strong  claims 
on  the  sympathy  and  commiseration  of  those  on 
whom  the  Creator,  through  a  better  line  of  an- 
cestry, has  bestowed  a  higher  order  of  intellect, 
and  more  elevated  moral  sentiments.  There 
must  at  least  be  a  full  development  of  the  intel- 
lectual powers,  combined  with  large  moral 
faculties,  to  hold  large  animal  propensities  in 
proper  subordination.  Much  also  depends  on 
the  training  and  influences  by  which  such  a 
person  is  surrounded,  to  show  signs  of  improve- 
ment. Still,  with  the  best  system  of  education 
applied  to  bring  out  his  faculties,  and  the  most 
careful  and  proper  mode  of  discipline,  he  would 
never  become  remarkable  for  great  elevation  of 
character  or  high  moral  standing. 

Society  is,  for  the  most  part,  based  and  edu- 
cated on  a  wrong  principle.  Crime  is  caused 
by  an  abuse  or  perverted  action  of  the  animal 


propensities,  owing  principally  to  education, 
and  partl}r  to  the  hereditary  transmission  of 
those  faculties  from  parents  to  their  children. 
In  the  training  of  children,  most  parents  begin 
in  their  infancy  to  exercise  the  organs  of  Aquisi- 
tiveness  and  Alimentiveness,  while  the  culture 
of  the  moral  sentiments  are  almost  wholly  neg- 
lected; so  that  that  which  is  the  most  active  in 
infancy  and  childhood,  in  most  cases  continues 
the  most  active  through  life.  This  is  the  chief 
reason  why  the  great  mass  of  mankind  are  sel- 
fishly engrossed  in  the  pursuit  of  business,  with 
the  intention  of  hoarding  up  riches,  instead  of 
seeking  happiness  in  the  legitimate  and  proper 
exercise  of  all  the  faculties,  which  is  the  only 
rational  mode  of  attaining  this  end. 

Then  again,  when  children  commit  a  fault, 
how  few  parents  there  are  to  be  found,  who 
think  of  trying  to  convince- the  child's  judgment 
and  reason  that  it  has  done  wrong,  but  proceed 
in  anger,  influenced  by  the  promptings  of  wild 
and  untamed  passion,  which  they  have  never 
learned  to  control  in  themselves,  to  use  harsh 
and  improper  language,  and  inflict  corporeal 
punishment.  It  is  a  fact  which  comes  within 
the  range  of  our  observation  daily,  that  the  facul- 
ties of  Destructiveness  and  Combativeness  are 
almost  universally  strengthened  and  encouraged 
in  children  by  severe  and  coercive  measures. 
Let  parents  remember  that  this  mode  of  treating 
their  children  is  contrary  to  reason  and  sound 
philosophy,  and  consequently  will  fail  to  accom- 
plish the  end  they  desire  to  attain.  Punishment 
with  the  rod  invariably  tends  to  give  a  highly 
stimulated  and  perverted  action  to  Destructive- 
ness  and  Combativeness.  If  a  child  is  angry 
and  irritable  (which  is  frequently  the  case  from 
indigestion  and  derangement  of  the  physical 


10 

system),  to  beat  it  is  only  adding  fuel  to  the  fire 
already  kindled :  by  repeated  whippings  an  in- 
creased quantity  of  blood  is  sent  to  the  base  of 
the  brain,  and  it  is  thereby  inflamed  and  excited, 
and  increased  in  size  and  activity.  If  children 
are  punished  in  anger,  and  from  a  spirit  of  re- 
taliation, we  may  reasonably  expect  to  see  in 
them,  when  full  grown  and  matured,  an  abnor- 
mal exercise  of  Destructiveness  and  Combative- 
ness,  instead  of  these  organs  performing  their 
proper  functions,  which  is  to  give  energy  and 
efficiency  to  the  higher  faculties,  and  execute 
and  carry  into  effect  that  which  the  intellect 
originates  and  dictates. 

The  space  allotted  in  a  small  pamphlet  will 
not  allow  us  to  go  into  lengthened  detail  on  the 
important  subject  of  education.  We  can  not  do 
more  than  briefly  glance  at  this  and  kindred 
topics.  But  before  closing  this  part  of  our  re- 
marks, I  will  relate  a  case  which  came  under 
the  personal  observation  of  the  deservedly  cele- 
brated and  popular  phrenologist,  Mr.  O.  S.  Fow- 
ler, which  strikingly  illustrates  the  evil  effects 
of  coercive  punishment. 

Mr.  Fowler  states  that  he  examined  the  head 
of  a  physician,  who  when  he  was  twelve  years 
old,  was  severely  flogged  by  his  father.  He  ran 
away  with  the  firm  resolution  never  to  return 
till  he  should  be  able  to  flog  his  father.  He  left, 
studied  medicine,  married,  became  the  father  of 
a  child,  and  returned  thirty  years  after,  and 
flogged  his  father.  Mr.  F.  states  also  that  this 
gentleman's  Destructiveness,  was  so  very  largely 
developed  as  to  be  greatly  disproportionate. 
Comment  is  unnecessary  on  this  case :  it  will  be 
perceived  at  once  that  cruelty  perverted  this 
faculty  in  childhood.  Had  this  boy  received  a 
mild  and  firm  training,  or  in  other  words,  been 


11 

educated  under  the  influence  of  the  law  of  love 
(which  is  the  most  philosophical  and  God-like), 
he  never  would  have  been  guilty  of  such  an 
outrage  as  flogging  his  aged  father. 

Another  fruitful  cause  of  crime  comes  through 
a  vitiated  or  perverted  Alimentiveness.  Perhaps 
there  is  no  case  of  aggravated  crime  on  record, 
which  is  not  traceable,  more  or  less,  to  this 
source.  The  perversion  of  this  faculty  manifests 
itself  in  the  immoderate  use  of  intoxicating 
drinks,  smoking  of  tobacco,  the  use  of  too  highly 
stimulated  food,  and  gluttony.  These  are  strong 
incentives  to  crime ;  they  cause  irritation  of  the 
stomach;  destroy  the  fine  sensibilities  of  the 
nerves,  and  often  disease  the  physical  system 
throughout. 

It  is  a  law  of  the  human  constitution,  that 
the  health,  the  physiological  condition  of  man, 
affects  the  cerebral  developments.  (This  is  a 
fact  which  even  the  skeptic  in  phrenology  will 
not  attempt  to  deny.)  There  is  a  corresponding 
reciprocity  between  the  mental  and  the  physical, 
between  the  body  and  the  mind.  It  must  then 
inevitably  follow,  that  where  there  is  a  deranged 
state  of  the  stomach  and  secretions,  and  a  dis- 
eased nervous  system,  the  brain  must  participate 
in  the  unhealthy  action ;  and  the  selfish  propen- 
sities being  located  in  the  base  of  the  brain, 
especially  become  perverted  through  the  heated 
and  highly  excited  state  of  the  blood.  To  pre- 
vent crime,  we  must  strike  at  the  root  of  the 
evil,  by  teaching  mankind  to  attend  to  the  health 
of  their  bodies,  in  the  use  of  proper  diet,  exercise, 
bathing,  &c. 

To  produce  a  moral  reformation,  there  must 
first  be  a  physical  reformation.  Man  must  be 
fully  acquainted  with  the  laws  that  govern  his 
physical  constitution,  and  obey  them,  to  become 


12 

morally  and  intellectually  happy.  The  tree  must 
be  good,  in  order  to  produce  good  fruit.  We 
may  as  well  expect  to  "  Gather  grapes  of  thorns, 
and  figs  of  thistles,"  as  to  see  pure,  virtuous,  be- 
nevolent and  peaceable  conduct  manifested  by 
persons  who  constantly  violate  the  laws  of  their 
physical  system,  by  keeping  up  continued  arti- 
ficial excitement,  caused  by  excessive  eating 
and  drinking. 

If,  then,  what  we  have  stated  is  admitted  to  be 
true,  viz:  that  the  causes  of  crime  arise  from  an 
improper  mode  of  education,  excitement  from  ex- 
ternal causes,  such  as  the  use  of  stimulants,  &c., 
and  that  certain  organs  are  too  largely  developed 
and  too  active,  being  inherited  from  parents,  (and 
the  abuse  of  these  faculties  almost  a  certain  con- 
sequence); and  as  these  hereditary  tendencies 
to  commit  evil  can  not  be  speedily  removed,  the 
question  arises,  what  are  the  best  means  to 
remedy  the  existing  evil  ?  How  can  we  most 
effectually  prevent  crime  under  present  circum- 
stances? and  how  shall  we  punish  the  offender 
so  as  to  bring  about  his  reformation,  and  protect 
public  life  and  property? 

In  order  to  punish  crime  in  the  most  legiti- 
mate and  proper  manner,  the  nature  and  phi- 
losophy of  man's  constitution,  together  with  his 
relation  to  external  objects,  must  be  fully  ascer- 
tained. This  phrenology  teaches.  A  thorough 
acquaintance  with  the  philosophy  of  man's  na- 
ture, would  lead  us  to  adopt  a  system  of  moral 
reform  instead  of  corporeal  punishment.  Indi- 
viduals who  are  by  nature  and  habit  so  depraved 
as  not  to  have  the  power  to  govern  themselves, 
ought  to  be  placed  under  the  moral  government 
of  persons  who  possess  a  predominance  of  the 
moral  and  intellectual  faculties.  Institutions 
founded  on  this  principle  of  reformation,  would 


13 

be  much  more  beneficial  to  society  at  large  than 
prisons.  Individuals  having  perverted  animal 
propensities,  would  be  placed  out  of  the  reach 
of  temptation  to  commit  crime ;  would  be  taught 
habits  of  industry,  the  use  of  proper  diet,  intel- 
lectual pursuits,  and  the  exercise  of  the  moral 
faculties.  The  good  which  would  result  from 
such  an  institution  would  surpass  any  plan 
which  has  ever  yet  been  tried  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  vice  and  crime.  Let  this  system  be  prac- 
tically carried  into  effect,  and  it  will  prove  to  be 
the  most  expedient  and  the  best  at  the  present 
time,  and  its  renovating  influence  will  tell  still 
more  powerfully  on  future  generations. 

We  hope  not  to  be  charged  with  arrogance  in 
presenting  these  views  to  the  reader.  We  ask 
the  reader  not  to  pronounce  hastily  against  these 
suggestions;  but  to  carefully  consider  a  subject 
which  is  of  such  vast  importance  to  community, 
candidly  and  without  prejudice. 

We  think  also  that  we  have  some  just  grounds 
for  urging  a  consideration  of  some  new  measures 
for  the  prevention  of  crime,  as  all  systems  adopted 
hitherto  have  failed  to  accomplish  this  object. 
Experience  proves  that  in  countries  where  le- 
nient laws  are  enacted,  the  people  are  as  much 
affected  by  them  as  by  sanguinary  punishments. 
Severe  and  cruel  retribution  for  offences,  may 
not  be  wholly  without  their  beneficial  effects, 
as  the  infliction  of  bodily  torture  is  painful  to 
the  senses,  and  through  a  selfish  dread  may  in 
some  degree  tend  to  restrain  crime ;  but  is  con- 
trary to  the  philosophy  of  man's  nature,  as  it  only 
tends  to  irritate  and  excite  his  propensities,  which 
are  already  too  active.  Such  treatment  may, 
with  some  degree  of  propriety,  be  applied  to  the 
brute  creation,  but  not  to  man,  who  is  a  think- 
ing, rational  and  intelligent  being,  endowed  with 


14 

the  innate  faculties  of  judgment,  conscientious- 
ness and  sense  of  honor. 

Prisoners  under  the  present  mode  of  disci- 
pline, who   are  confined   two,  five   and  seven 
years,  do  not  appear  to  be  much  improved  when 
released  from  imprisonment ;  but  in  many  cases 
go  out  into  society  doubly  infuriated,  and  with 
a  resolution  to  commit  crimes  tenfold  worse  in 
character.     Why  is  this  ?     Simply  because  their 
faculties  have,  during  their  imprisonment,  re- 
ceived a  wrong  training.     Instead  of  being  en- 
couraged to  strive  to  do  better  in  the  future,  and 
reasoned  with  on  the  benevolent  and  humane 
principle,  they  received  the  epithet  of  villian,  and 
were  driven  to  their  work  like  brutes  rather  than 
men.     This  treatment  so  inflames  their  Com- 
bativeness  and    Destructiveness,   and    crushes 
their  Self-Esteem,  that  they  seek  revenge  by 
plunging  themselves  still  deeper  in  crime.     We 
occasionally  meet  with  persons  who  have  the 
charge  of  criminals,  and  who  have  applied  the 
principles  of  phrenology  to  the  treatment  of  pri- 
soners.    Mr.  John  McDuffey,  one  of  the  keepers 
of  Sing  Sing  prison,  informed  me  that  for  two 
years  past  he  had  tried  the  law  of  love  to  some 
of  the  most  refractory  under  his  charge,  and 
found  that  by  it  he  could  restrain  and  manage 
them  better  than  by  exercising  compulsory  mea- 
sures.    There  is  but  little  doubt,  that  if  this  law 
was  applied  universally,  it  would  be  much  more 
effective  than  physical  force.     Convince  a  man 
that  you  love  him,  and  that  you  disinterestedly 
desire  his  happiness,  and  you  have  bound  him 
with  cords  stronger  than  chains  and  shackles 
made  of  iron ;  even  the  most  base  and  hardened 
wretch  will  yield  to  its  influence,  if  it  be  fairly 
and  perseveringly  tried.     We  unhesitatingly  as- 
sert, and  thousands  both  in  this  country  and  in 


15 

Europe  heartily  respond  to  the  sentiment,  that 
the  law  of  love  is  the  most  potent  and  powerful 
law  in  the  universe,  and  that  it  will  do  more  to 
allay  and  subdue  the  turbulent  passions  of  man- 
kind than  the  combined  forces  of  all  the  armies 
of  earth. 

A  case  occurred  a  few  years  since  in  New 
South  Wales  (the  British  transport  colony), 
where  a  philanthropist  was  trying  the  influence 
of  the  law  of  love  on  the  poor  degraded  convicts. 
He  states,  that  in  no  case  did  he  find  an  appeal 
made  to  the  sympathies  of  those  persons,  in  vain; 
and  he  mentions  the  case  of  one  convict  in  par- 
ticular, who  was  so  savage  and  unmanageable 
as  to  resemble  a  fiend  incarnate.  He  was 
warned  by  the  overseer  of  this  ferocious  convict, 
and  told  that  it  was  dangerous  to  approach  him, 
as  he  threatened  to  take  the  life  of  all  who  had 
any  concern  with  him.  The  philanthropist, 
however,  regardless  of  the  warning,  went  and 
took  the  criminal  by  the  hand  and  remonstrated 
with  him  in  an  affectionate  manner,  respecting 
his  evil  conduct.  The  wretched  being  soon  be- 
gan to  show  signs  of  repentance ;  he  wept  like 
a  child,  and  promised  in  future  to  discharge  his 
duty  faithfully.  We  think  this  case  furnishes  a 
strong  proof  of  the  efficacy  and  power  of  kind- 
ness over  man,  even  when  in  ruins,  and  sunk  to 
the  lowest  depths  of  sin  and  degradation.  How- 
ever far  he  may  have  wandered  from  the  paths 
of  truth  and  virtue,  still  he  is  a  man  and  a  bro- 
ther— an  immortal  being,  having  claims  on  our 
sympathy,  and  our  best  efforts  to  reform  him 
and  make  him  happy. 

"  How  poor,  how  rich,  how  abject,  how  august. 
How  complicate,  how  wonderful,  is  man ! 
Distinguish'd  link  in  being's  endless  chain ! 
Midway  from  nothing  to  the  Deity! 
A  beam  etherial,  sullied  and  dishonored,  still  divine. 


16 

What  can  preserve  his  life?  or  what  destroy? 
An  angel's  arm  can't  snatch  him  from  the  grave: 
Legions  of  angels  can't  confine  him  there." 

An  infliction  of  coercive  chastisement  is  but 
a  remnant  of  the  laws  enforced  by  the  cruel  des- 
pots of  the  dark  and  barbarous  ages ;  and  as  the 
sun  of  liberty  approaches  his  meridian  height  in 
this  glorious  republic,  we  hope  to  have  laws  en- 
acted free  from  the  least  taint  of  such  as  stained 
and  disgraced  the  statutes  of  the  Roman  kings, 
and  the  tables  of  the  Decemviri. 

We  do  not  require  sanguinary  punishment  in 
its  most  merciful  form,  anymore  than  we  require 
the  thumb  screw,  the  stake,  the  rack  and  the 
gibbet.  We  propose  reformation  of  individuals 
with  perverted  faculties,  by  a  system  of  moral 
education,  founded  on  the  philosophy  of  man's 
nature.  By  this  process  we  will  bring  the  pro- 
pensities under  the  control  of  the  higher  senti- 
ments, and  thus  by  removing  the  cause  the  effects 
will  cease. 


• 


THE  LrHRARY 
(jjHN  UJFORNLA 


